Je Suis Charlie

One of the many cartoons that went viral following the shooting

Last month, the world was thrown into turmoil with the murders of the twelve French journalists at Charlie Hebdo, leaving feelings of fear spreading globally. But the Isis extremists knew exactly what they were doing when they went for this controversial French magazine. Charlie Hebdo was a satirical magazine that specialised in controversy and claimed that the only way to eradicate the feelings of distrust and fear was to mock them. They tried to use the power of words and images to destroy the fear spread around by the horrific actions of extremists. By targeting such free-thinkers, Isis shocked the world. The magazine wanted to promote the importance of free press and the ability to be able to publish what they want. They did not want to be oppressed and displayed just how much power words and art had. After all the pen is mightier than the sword. Free speech is something that everyone should be entitled to, providing it does not advocate harm to others.

I can agree that there is more than one side to every argument and that the cartoons published in the magazine were intended to spark disagreement but they were mainly to prove that the magazine would not be scared into submission. They wanted to stand out and express their feelings no matter how controversial they were. If the entire world fears the actions of Isis then the terrorists will have got exactly what they wanted. Worldwide publicity and recognition. Many British newspapers refused to publish the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo for the fear of the extremists, what unity does this show? It shows absolutely none at all. It reinforces the thoughts of widespread fear and submission. Every newspaper in the world should be standing up to the barbaric actions of the extremists.

The actions of the extremists were complete unjustifiable: what is worse though, is that they are creating negative stereotypes for other members of the Islamic religion. Thoughtless people and racist opportunists bundle religious groups or nationalities into one false group, happy to spread lies that they are all murderers or all believe the same extremities as the members of Isis. This is clearly idiocy. A tiny minority of Islamic extremists have nothing to do with the day-to-day reality of peace-loving, law-abiding, ordinary Muslim people. Racial abuse aimed at Muslims purely because they follow the same god as a handful of psychopathic fundamentalists is the worst possible outcome of this terrorism. What we need is unity. The world should all work as one to prevent any tragedies from occurring, unite in what we share and our common humanity, rather than be divided by those who are only governed by hatred, whether terrorists or racists.

The world needs to unite and speak out. Freedom of speech should be defended and so should all our communities, whatever their faith. Words are the solution; united we can talk and we can stop this.